Swindon1 - 1Brentford

Kevin O'Connor's injury-time penalty gave Brentford a vital draw against Swindon in the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final.

Massimo Luongo put the hosts in front with a curling effort.

And just when it seemed Swindon would take a one-goal advantage into the return tie, Luongo brought down Harry Forrester and O'Connor converted.

O'Connor the Bees knees

Kevin O'Connor signed professional terms with Brentford in 1999 and made his debut in February 2000

He was awarded a testimonial against Fulham for 10 years' service in July 2010

His 486 games for the club put him fourth in the London team's all-time appearance list

Swindon still could have won it but Andy Williams put his late effort over the bar.

Brentford's last-gasp penalty will have given Bees supporters flashbacks to
the final day of the campaign,
when Marcello Trotta missed a 90th-minute spot-kick that would have sent his side into the Championship, only for Doncaster to go straight up the other end and score a goal through James Coppinger that saw the South Yorkshire club go up instead of Uwe Rosler's men.

But Trotta, an unused substitute at the County Ground, watched from the bench as regular penalty taker O'Connor coolly converted to make for an intriguing second leg on Monday.

Swindon had come into the game after a run of just two wins in eight had left them in the final play-off berth, and Kevin MacDonald's side were on the back foot early on, with Adam Forshaw going close before Adam Rooney dragged wide at the other end.

MacDonald has been tasked with completing the job of achieving back-to-back promotions - a task started by Paolo Di Canio but handed over following the Italian's departure in February.

And Australian Luongo, on loan from Tottenham, had Town in front with a superbly controlled effort from the edge of the box.

Brentford applied late pressure but Swindon looked to have survived when Alan McCormack threw his body in the way of a rasping Farid El Alagui effort.

However, Luongo turned from hero to villain when he scythed down Forrester, allowing 31-year-old O'Connor, a Brentford stalwart of 14 years, to make it all square in his 486th game for the club.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Swindon Town manager Kevin MacDonald told BBC Wiltshire:

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"We're disappointed but now makes it a one-off tie come Monday.

"We're very disappointed to concede a penalty so late on in the game when we felt we maybe had a couple of good shouts for a penalty at the other end.

"They (Brentford) will be delighted but we're still in the game and that's the most important thing.

"We've got to get ourselves re-set and come out fighting on Monday."

Brentford boss Uwe Rosler told BBC London 94.9:

"It was a difficult game, not much between the two sides but our back four did very well and it was a fair result overall.

"The handling and presence of Simon Moore for a young goalkeeper was exceptional.

"Kevin O Connor did a great job despite not playing many games and he used all his experience and skills to convert his penalty today."

Live text and stats

Saturday, 4 May 2013

League One

Home Team

Score

Away Team

Time

Swindon

1-1

Brentford

FT

(HT 0-0)

Luongo 70

O'Connor (pen) 90+4

Swindon

01 Foderingham

04 Flint

05 Devera

22 Ward

24 Byrne

08 Ferry (Collins 82)

11 Roberts yellow card

12 McCormack

25 Luongo

16 Williams

28 A Rooney

Substitutes

30 Bedwell,

06 Navarro,

07 L Rooney,

18 Miller,

09 Collins,

20 Storey,

23 De Vita

Brentford

21 Moore

06 Dean

14 Logan

18 Hodson (Forrester 77)

24 Bidwell

02 O'Connor

04 Forshaw (Saunders 82)

08 Douglas

12 Adeyemi

09 Donaldson

17 Wright-Phillips (El Alagui 68)

Substitutes

16 Gounet,

07 Saunders,

20 Diagouraga,

22 Reeves,

10 El Alagui,

11 Trotta,

19 Forrester

Ref: Geoff EltrighamAtt: 10,595

SWINDON

BRENTFORD

Possession

Swindon49%

Brentford51%

Attempts on target

Swindon5

Brentford1

Attempts off target

Swindon5

Brentford3

Corners

Swindon9

Brentford4

Fouls

Swindon10

Brentford13

Final Result

Full Time

90:00+5:32 The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00+4:51 James Collins produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

86:17 The official flags James Collins offside. Simon Moore restarts play with the free kick.

84:50 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Sam Saunders, clearance made by Aden Flint. Harry Forrester takes a shot.
Blocked by Massimo Luongo. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Sam Saunders, Headed effort on goal by Harlee
Dean from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the goal.

84:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Ward by Clayton Donaldson. Wes Foderingham restarts play with the free
kick.

81:15 Substitution (Swindon) makes a substitution, with James Collins coming on for Simon Ferry.

54:32 Shaleum Logan concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Byrne. Darren Ward restarts play with the free kick. Corner taken
by Gary Roberts from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Bradley Wright-Phillips.

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